Rehearsal Hall Sessions: Michelle Kwan & Bushido

Description

MICHELLE KWAN & BUSHIDO

Prepare for a magical evening as we bring you the gorgeous, exhilarating musical instruments from East Asia. Michelle Kwan is back at Evergreen to ignite the audience with her traditional and contemporary performances on the Chinese Guzheng instrument. With a mixture of traditional Chinese music as well as unique covers from well known artists such Guns & Roses, Metallica and Adele, Michelle Kwan is sure to having you bopping along.

Bushido, a Vancouver/Sunshine Coast based duo of Japanese folk-inspired musicians, travels to Evergreen for the first time for their upbeat, heart pounding performances of wa-gakki, traditional Japanese instruments. Bushido’s range of thundering dynamic performances and slower meditative pieces is guaranteed to transport you ancient and modern Japan.

We acknowledge the financial support of Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

MICHELLE KWAN | Michelle Kwan is a trailblazing musician whose mastery of the traditional Chinese harp transcends borders and genres. With roots deeply embedded in the rich tapestry of Chinese musical traditions, Michelle weaves together Western and Asian influences, creating a mesmerizing fusion sound that captivates audiences worldwide. 

Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Michelle began her musical journey on the 21 stringed Chinese harp at a young age. Although she was trained classically on the guzheng, she also had a love for North American mainstream music. Inspired by both classical Chinese melodies and contemporary Western sounds, Michelle embarked on a quest to redefine the boundaries of the ancient Chinese harp. She began her own Youtube channel and has now gained over 2,000,000 views. Her guzheng covers has been featured on various media including Guitar World, GlobalTV, CBC and Huffington Post. Michelle is also a guzheng teacher and is passionate about educating students the art of playing the Chinese harp. 

Blending the ethereal tones of the guzheng with elements of pop and rock, Michelle crafts a unique sonic landscape that transcends cultural divides. Prepare to listen to her innovative arrangements that breathe new life into familiar melodies while introducing audiences to the enchanting sounds of this ancient instrument in unexpected contexts. 

BUSHIDO | Bushido- 節童 ”Children of Song”, is the Vancouver/Sunshine Coast based duo of Japanese folk-inspired musicians who play wa-gakki, Japanese traditional instruments. As their name implies, their approach to music is in a child-like way, deeply embodying the spirit of joy and experimentation in the process. Bushido’s music has a wide range of moods, dynamics, and characters. Sometimes very festive and uplifting like Japanese festivals. Other times very meditative and spiritual. Their expressions through Japanese traditional musical instruments will transport you to ancient Japan and to our modern world…and deep within. 

Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos is a master of the legendary shakuhachi bamboo zen flute flute of Japan) and a multi-instrumentalist, and has dedicated his life to learning Japanese musical instruments. 

Nori Akagi is a multi-instrumentalist and taiko drummer and percussionist who has been exploring a variety of percussion styles around the world for many years, but has been embracing his Japanese identity deeper than ever.